National Collegiate Hockey Conference

[Chris '03]

Discussion at CHN about RPI going to HE if ND does and here.

That would suck.

It certainly would.

UConn has always been the natural choice for future HEA expansion. They fit the profile and geography and already have a rival in UMass. It's a shame they've never supported the program enough in Storrs.

One good thing about HEA getting to 12 would be the increase in OOC games those schools would have to fill.

[Trotsky]

Discussion at CHN about RPI going to HE if ND does and here.

Well, the sum total of the RPI mention in the first article is this:

A popular candidate for a 12th team is RPI, which is currently in the ECAC.

In the second it's this:

On the other hand, RPI was courted by Hockey East twice before, when it was formed in the early '80s, and again in the mid-'90s, ultimately deciding against it both times. And, most importantly, the idea is supported by its current administration, including head coach Seth Appert and athletic director Jim Knowlton (despite his lip service to the contrary, as was reported Tuesday by Ken Schott of the Schnectady Gazette).

which is admittedly worse.

[scoop85]

According to the USCHO reporters, both Notre Dame and RPI to Hockey East looking like a real possibility, if not likelihood:  USCHO Hockey East Preview

For that to occur, you'd have to think UCONN has made clear it has no intention of becoming a serious player in college hockey.

If RPI does leave -- and I'd be disappointed if they do -- RIT would seemingly be the obvious replacement.

[Jim Hyla]

Here's more from Schott of the Schenectady Gazette.

That means Notre Dame won't be joining Colorado College, Denver, Miami University, Minnesota Duluth, Nebraska Omaha, North Dakota, St. Cloud State and Western Michigan in the conference. It is looking more and more like the Fighting Irish will leave the CCHA to join Hockey East in 2013-14, and that could mean RPI may join them.

While RPI athletic director Jim Knowlton and Engineers coach Seth Appert said they were happy with being in ECAC Hockey, the lure of moving to a conference with Boston College, Boston University, Maine and New Hampshire may be enough to end RPI's time in the ECACH.

There are also rumblings that Cornell is being courted by Hockey East.

Not that I think any of these rumblings mean anything. With our Ivy restrictions how would we pull this off?

[jtwcornell91]

Here's more from Schott of the Schenectady Gazette.

That means Notre Dame won't be joining Colorado College, Denver, Miami University, Minnesota Duluth, Nebraska Omaha, North Dakota, St. Cloud State and Western Michigan in the conference. It is looking more and more like the Fighting Irish will leave the CCHA to join Hockey East in 2013-14, and that could mean RPI may join them.

While RPI athletic director Jim Knowlton and Engineers coach Seth Appert said they were happy with being in ECAC Hockey, the lure of moving to a conference with Boston College, Boston University, Maine and New Hampshire may be enough to end RPI's time in the ECACH.

There are also rumblings that Cornell is being courted by Hockey East.

Not that I think any of these rumblings mean anything. With our Ivy restrictions how would we pull this off?

Those seem like pretty ridiculous rumblings.  Aside from the Ivy factor, we're the westernmost of the ECAC schools.  Then again, if HE is taking Notre Dame, they've apparently abandoned the concept of geography...

[Trotsky]

Those seem like pretty ridiculous rumblings.

Somebody's pulling Ken Schott's leg.  "Just trying to capture the spirit of the thing, Reg."

[RichH]

This is pretty much pissing me off.  Can someone explain to me how a school with such a poor historical hockey record can manage to hold the sport hostage? Or why the powers-that-be in college hockey are allowing themselves to be held hostage by such a weak program?  Am I the only person to see this as a tail-wagging-the-dog situation? A tiny, insignificant tail.

Notre Dame has a total of 15 winning seasons in the modern era. 15 out of 42 seasons at the D-1 level. Four of them came in the last 5 years. As recently as 2005, they posted a stellar 5-27-6 season, and they have 5 total NCAA tournament appearances to their name. A program with so much support, they were dropped to a club sport in the 1980s.

Why do they get to call the shots here?    Because of a football team that hasn't been relevant since Lou Holtz stepped down?

I get the BTHC move. I'm not happy about it, but I get it.  That forced the remaining Western schools to make the moves that subsequently happened.  And now just when the dust has cleared and we have a solution that works, with two leagues that would be fine with their membership, Notre Dame...again...NOTRE DAME decides that they might want to blast a hole into the Eastern landscape as well?  I'm sorry, who are you again?  Where did this "Notre Dame is deciding its next conference" crap come from?  Why aren't we asking UAH what conference THEY would like to join first?

I'm sure schools like Merrimack, Lowell, Northeastern are going to love the additional budget they have to cover for travel out to freaking Chicagoland.  SAY NO, HOCKEY EAST. JUST SAY NO TO THEM. They belong with the new WCHA, but if the NCHC will take them, just ducky.  Or stay independent like your coach-blaming shell of a football program. Stay out of the East.

Ah, the more I think about it, the angrier I get...Go to hell, Notre Dame.

[Jim Hyla]

This is pretty much pissing me off.  Can someone explain to me how a school with such a poor historical hockey record can manage to hold the sport hostage? Or why the powers-that-be in college hockey are allowing themselves to be held hostage by such a weak program?  Am I the only person to see this as a tail-wagging-the-dog situation? A tiny, insignificant tail.

Notre Dame has a total of 15 winning seasons in the modern era. 15 out of 42 seasons at the D-1 level. Four of them came in the last 5 years. As recently as 2005, they posted a stellar 5-27-6 season, and they have 5 total NCAA tournament appearances to their name. A program with so much support, they were dropped to a club sport in the 1980s.

Why do they get to call the shots here?    Because of a football team that hasn't been relevant since Lou Holtz stepped down?

I get the BTHC move. I'm not happy about it, but I get it.  That forced the remaining Western schools to make the moves that subsequently happened.  And now just when the dust has cleared and we have a solution that works, with two leagues that would be fine with their membership, Notre Dame...again...NOTRE DAME decides that they might want to blast a hole into the Eastern landscape as well?  I'm sorry, who are you again?  Where did this "Notre Dame is deciding its next conference" crap come from?  Why aren't we asking UAH what conference THEY would like to join first?

I'm sure schools like Merrimack, Lowell, Northeastern are going to love the additional budget they have to cover for travel out to freaking Chicagoland.  SAY NO, HOCKEY EAST. JUST SAY NO TO THEM. They belong with the new WCHA, but if the NCHC will take them, just ducky.  Or stay independent like your coach-blaming shell of a football program. Stay out of the East.

Ah, the more I think about it, the angrier I get...Go to hell, Notre Dame.

Well, I'm sure that if HE didn't want them they wouldn't be talking. So, I don't think they are being held hostage. In fact maybe NCHC got tired and said so long, but I doubt it. As much as I dislike ND, I don't think they are holding anyone hostage that doesn't want to be held. Of course they are also the no. 1 ranked preseason.

[ursusminor]

This is pretty much pissing me off.  Can someone explain to me how a school with such a poor historical hockey record can manage to hold the sport hostage? Or why the powers-that-be in college hockey are allowing themselves to be held hostage by such a weak program?  Am I the only person to see this as a tail-wagging-the-dog situation? A tiny, insignificant tail.

Notre Dame has a total of 15 winning seasons in the modern era. 15 out of 42 seasons at the D-1 level. Four of them came in the last 5 years. As recently as 2005, they posted a stellar 5-27-6 season, and they have 5 total NCAA tournament appearances to their name. A program with so much support, they were dropped to a club sport in the 1980s.

Why do they get to call the shots here?    Because of a football team that hasn't been relevant since Lou Holtz stepped down?

I get the BTHC move. I'm not happy about it, but I get it.  That forced the remaining Western schools to make the moves that subsequently happened.  And now just when the dust has cleared and we have a solution that works, with two leagues that would be fine with their membership, Notre Dame...again...NOTRE DAME decides that they might want to blast a hole into the Eastern landscape as well?  I'm sorry, who are you again?  Where did this "Notre Dame is deciding its next conference" crap come from?  Why aren't we asking UAH what conference THEY would like to join first?

I'm sure schools like Merrimack, Lowell, Northeastern are going to love the additional budget they have to cover for travel out to freaking Chicagoland.  SAY NO, HOCKEY EAST. JUST SAY NO TO THEM. They belong with the new WCHA, but if the NCHC will take them, just ducky.  Or stay independent like your coach-blaming shell of a football program. Stay out of the East.

Ah, the more I think about it, the angrier I get...Go to hell, Notre Dame.

IMHO, there is a lot of short-term thinking in the realignment. UMD is the national champion, but they were at the bottom of the WCHA not so long ago and could be back at that level in another few. Miami's coach has made them one of the best teams in recent years, but will they still be there when he leaves.

[Scersk '97]

This. And this^3.

When Jeff Jackson croaks, Notre Dame will become the unwanted country cousin of Hockey East.

The only way I end up happy is if this motivates a 23- (or 24-) team superleague.  You know the drill:  4 divisions of Ivy, ECAC, HE1, and HE2; home-and-home intradivision, one game interdivision = 27 league games (for the Ivies and other participants in 6-team divisions) or 26 league games (for the 5-team division); 16-team megaplayoff; and Boston tournament.  Long live the ECAC+!

But that's not going to happen.  So when RPI leaps, I'll be pissed.  "Screw BU, RPI too!"

[ursusminor]

This. And this^3.

When Jeff Jackson croaks, Notre Dame will become the unwanted country cousin of Hockey East.

The only way I end up happy is if this motivates a 23- (or 24-) team superleague.  You know the drill:  4 divisions of Ivy, ECAC, HE1, and HE2; home-and-home intradivision, one game interdivision = 27 league games (for the Ivies and other participants in 6-team divisions) or 26 league games (for the 5-team division); 16-team megaplayoff; and Boston tournament.  Long live the ECAC+!

But that's not going to happen.  So when RPI leaps, I'll be pissed.  "Screw BU, RPI too!"

Thanks. :-D

BTW, Ken Schott has posted again that there are rumblings that Cornell interested in the HE http://www.dailygazette.com/weblogs/schott/2011/oct/04/college-hockey-notes-notre-dame-headed-to-hockey-e/.

[Scersk '97]

BTW, Ken Schott has posted again that there are rumblings that Cornell interested in the HE http://www.dailygazette.com/weblogs/schott/2011/oct/04/college-hockey-notes-notre-dame-headed-to-hockey-e/.

Only way that happens is with my ridiculous Superleague or some other crazy idea, because 22 + 10 = 32 > 29.

This is not the way I wanted us to pick up RIT.  I had always hoped that would come by excommunicating Quinnipiac or Union.

[Beeeej]

BTW, Ken Schott has posted again that there are rumblings that Cornell interested in the HE http://www.dailygazette.com/weblogs/schott/2011/oct/04/college-hockey-notes-notre-dame-headed-to-hockey-e/.

He said, exactly, "And there is speculation that Cornell is interested."  By speculating it himself, he is reporting the truth.

[Towerroad]

An interesting thought though. We would clearly have to give up Ivy League Hockey with its schedule/practice restrictions and I don't see how we could play all the HE teams and the IVYs twice in a season. On the other hand we would have stronger competitors in BU, BC, UNH. If you value a national championship above all else (even beating Sucks) this would be a logical move.

[David Harding]

From USCHO

Bowling Green has accepted the WCHA's offer of membership for the 2013–14 season, the school announced Tuesday.

The school was one of five from the CCHA given an invitation in August to join the WCHA, which is set to lose eight of its current 12 teams when conferences realign in the 2013 offseason. Alaska, Ferris State and Lake Superior State also accepted; Western Michigan instead is joining the National Collegiate Hockey Conference.

Read more: http://www.uscho.com/2011/10/04/bowling-green-accepts-wchas-invitation-to-join-in-2013/#ixzz1ZrkweRoO

And USCHO

Notre Dame has scheduled a news conference for Wednesday, at which it will announce it will join Hockey East, sources have said.

The Fighting Irish were considering Hockey East and the National Collegiate Hockey Conference for the 2013–14 season, but the NCHC issued a news release Sunday, saying it would start with the eight teams that had already committed.

Read more: http://www.uscho.com/2011/10/04/notre-dame-set-to-announce-move-to-hockey-east/#ixzz1ZrlOM7td